Thread: tuberculosis

i had recently been loosing weight for no apparant reason. i started about 190 and slowly began to decline and i noticed i wasnt making anymore weekly strength gains anymore. when i went to apply at the local hospital for a position, they told me i had to take a tb test. mine came up positive, and the chest xray showed that it was active. this explains the weight loss and loss of strength that i had been experiencing, but i started isoniazid and i was curious if this weight loss and strength loss is going to stop and i can begin to make some gains again, or will i have to wait untill i am further into the treatment? also - i have been experiencing a major loss of appetite.... is there any supplements i can take that will stimulate my appetite (the healthy and natural way of course)? thanks so much

Originally Posted by ABLQ2

i was curious if this weight loss and strength loss is going to stop and i can begin to make some gains again, or will i have to wait untill i am further into the treatment? also - i have been experiencing a major loss of appetite.... is there any supplements i can take that will stimulate my appetite (the healthy and natural way of course)? thanks so much

I'm moving this to the health forum (not really a diet question), but to answer a few issues -

The signs you are experiencing (weight loss, weakness and lack of appetite) are all caused by the disease process that is occuring in your body. The infection has activated your immune system - and your body has been releasing lots of chemicals to try to get control over the bacteria... But these chemicals, as well has having an effect in getting your body to try to fight the disease, also have an effect on the rest of your body - and cause things such as loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness/weakness, (and other things like night sweating). And, of course, the lack of appetite and eating will also be contributing to the tiredness, weakness and weight...

So - if you treat the disease (which for TB can take AGES and can involve combinations of different antibiotics given at the same time) then these symptoms will stop and you will start to feel better (it may take a two to four weeks before you notice a big change). But the speed at which you recover will also vary depending on how severe your disease is.

Now - I would certainly not be in the gym or pounding the pavement at this time (not only for your sake - but you don't want to go around coughing on everyone either )... You don't want to be working out when you are sick - just rest and allow your body to recover. TB is pretty nasty - Your body needs to concentrate on clearing the infection and it doesn't need to be worrying about trying to deadlift as well!! Also - you will not make significant weight/strength increases while you are trying to fight an infection!! Your body has priorities and at this stage it is fighting off the infection and repairing the damage that it has done.

Anyway - Your doctor should have already given you an indication of what you should and should not be doing in terms of these things. If not, I suggest you go back and talk to them about it.


In terms of 'supplements'. I wouldn't take anything. Firstly, some supplements (even things like high dose anti-oxidants or certain herbs or vitamins) can interfere with the action of drugs your doctors may give you - and you don't want to do that. And secondly, as I said, if you just focus on treating the disease effectively (with the antibiotics and rest), your appetite will return to normal too.

Good luck - I hope you start to feel better soon.